Switch device for street-cars



2 Sheets--Sheet L J. 1101111111.. SWITCH DEVICE FOR STREET CARS.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 14, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J YOUNG SWITCH DEVICE FOR STREET CARS.

N0. 450.549. Patented Apr. 14, 1891'.

'4, Ill 1144! I]. my I IIIII UNrrnD STATES PATENT rien.

JEREMIAH YOUNG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH DEVICE FOR- STREET-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,549, dated April 14, 1891.

Application filed October 24,1889. Renewed February 24:, 1891. Serial No. 382,344. (No model.)

- which said invention appertain s to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the car, showing the forward truck and platform, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section; Fig. 4:, a bottom plan view; and Fig. 5, a longitudinal section similar to that of Fig. 2, showing theswitch-bar and roll depressed.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

Myinvention relates especially to means for directing a street-car onto a side or branch track from the platform of the car; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the car, 13 the wheels, and O the track, these parts being all of the ordinary form and construction. A bracket 1) is secured centrally to the bottom of the car directly in front of the wheel-truck. Two laterally-projecting rods dare swiveled at their endsin the bracket 1) in such position that their outer orfree ends are in position to be directed into engagement with the track 0. These rods are provided on their outer ends with a roll f, having an annular flange or disk g, which takes on the outer edge of the track when said rods are lowered. A longitudinal lever h is pivoted at one end to a brackett'on the bottom of the car, as best shown in Fig. 4. A companion lever k is pivoted at m to the lever, 71, and is extended to project under the platform 19. A vertical rod q is secured to the forward end of the lever k and projects upward through the platform, its upper end being provided with a foot-piece r. The lever is connected at its inner end by a pivot 15 to a lug oreye 25, attached to the bottom of the car.

A curved hook-shaped rod 1; is pivoted at w to the car-bottom, its free end loosely encircling a switch-rod d. V A loop y on the lever 72., through which the rod 0 passes, slides thereon and forces said rod downward when the lever is depressed. A flat spring 2, se cured on the car-bottom, engages the forward end of the lever 70 and acts to keep said lever elevated. The track G where the branch track 15 enters it is provided with a fixed V- shaped switch-block 16 instead of the ordinary movable tongue. A set of levers h 70 and connecting mechanism above describedare disposed at each side of the car for actuating the respective switch-rods (Z.

In the use of my improvement when it is desired to direct or switch the car A onto a branch track 15, leading from the left of the main track O, for example, the driver depresses the left-handrod q with his foot, forcing the forward end of the lever 70 downward. Said lever being pivoted to the car at t and to the companion lever h at m, the inner end of the lever 72. is thereby forced downward, said levers assuming the positions shown by dotted lines 71 713 in Fig. 2. The loop or eye g on the lever h is thus forced into engagement with the pivoted curved rod 4;,which is driven downward, carrying with it the swiveled switch-rod cl at the left of the car until its rod f rests upon the rail Odirectly in front of the car-wheel B. The flange g on said roll projects downward over and engages the outer edge of said rail, as described, as near as possible to the point of contact between the wheel and rail. This holds the ordinary flange 18 of the wheel closely against the inner face of the rail, and as it reaches the branch track 15 causes it to be directed therein instead of running straight on the main track. The ordinary block 16 or divided rail being employed to join the branch and main tracks, the roll. f, following the line of the outside of said track, forces the wheel 13 to take the same direction. As soon as the foot-piece r is freed by the driver the spring 2 forces it upward again, causing the scissors-levers h 70 to close or resume their normal position and elevate the switch-rod, as shown in Fig. The rod 7) is curved to avoid the brake-beam and portions of the truck.

Instead of the fiat spring 2, a coiled spring disposed around the rod q may be employed to close the levers.

It will be seen that the use of my improvement obviates the necessity of using a tongue or table switch and enables the driver to diroot the car onto a branch track without descending from the platform.

Having thus explained my invention,what I claim is- 1. In a device of the character described, a rod swivel'ed to the car and provided with a roll having an annular flange adapted to take on the outer edge of the track-rail in front of the car-wheel, and mechanism, substantially as described, for actuating said rod.

In a "switch mechanism for street-cars, an adjustable flanged roll or wheel on the car, adapted to engage the outer edge of the rail and hold the ear-wheel flange in'contaet with the inner edge of said rail, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a switch mechanism for street ca'rs, a rod swiveled to the car and provided with a flanged wheel adapted to engage the rail, in

combination with scissors-levers pivoted on p the car, and a supporting-rod connect-ingen'e a rm thereof with said swiveled rod, substantially as set forth.

4. In a switch mechanism for street-cars, the combination o'fa rod s'w-iveled to the car,

a roll on the free end thereof provided with a flange for engaging the outer edge of the 0 oted levers h k with the swiveled rod d, provided with the roll f, having the flange g, and the supporting-rod o, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The combination of the car A and swiveled rod 01, provided with the flanged roll f, with the pivoted supporting-rod o, levers h k, and springs, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the car A and swiveled rod d, provided with the flanged roll f, with the pivoted supporting rod "v, levers h 7a, the rod g on the lever is, and the spring in contact therewith, substantially as described.

I S. In a switch mechanism for street-cars, the combination of a car, scissors-levers -piv- =oted there-to,a rod passing through the carplatform and connected with an arm of said levers, a spring for elevating the same, 'a-swive-led rod on the car bearing a flanged wheel adapted to engage the outer edge of the rail, and a pivoted supporting-rod fitted to slide through a loop on the opposite lever-arm, whereby the swiveled rod may be adjusted as the levers are actuated, substantially "as and for the purpose set forth.

JEREMIAH YOUNG.

Witnesses:

M. SHAW, K. DURFEE. 

